Writing pad



May 29 1923.

D. M. KUMPF WRITING PAD Filed April 14, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 29, 1923. 15156327 D. M. KUMPF WRITING PAD Filed April 14, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 22 /lj/wi 1 7/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 29, 1923. 1,456,927

D.M.KUMPF WRITING PAD Filed April 14, 1922 :5 Shets-$heet 5 ATTORN EY INVENTOR Patented May 29, 1923.

DAVID M. KUMPF, OF PEKIN, ILLINOIS.

WRITING PAD.

Application filed April 14, 1922. Serial No. 552,710.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. KUMPF,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pekin, in the county of Tazewell, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Writing Pads, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to a writing pad. I

My primary objectis to produce a supporting means for a writing pad, and means associated with the supporting means whereby the pad may be illuminated so that the same may be employed in the dark as well as in the light.

It is a still further object to produce a supporting means for writing pads or books that comprises a base on which the pad or book rests, said base having means associated therewith whereby the device can be efiectively supported from a pocket of the user, and being likewise provided with means for effectively clamping the book or pad thereon as well as means, adjustable with respect to the support and carrying thereon a flashlight normally disposed transversely with respect to the pad, but susceptible to swinging on its support whereby the rays of light therefrom may be directed over the outer sheet of the pad or the leaves of the book.

The foregoing, and other objects which will present themselvesas the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative association of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of the improvement showing the pad illuminated.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the flashlight swung transversely on its support, as when the device is not in use.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the improvement.

Figure 4 is a pers ective view of the device with the pador ook removed, and also showing the clamp unhinged and arranged at an angle with respect to the base.

Figure5 is a similar view of the supporting means for the flashlight.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

that the teeth thereof wil Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the battery carrier which may be employed.

Figure 9 is a view of the device showing a book instead of a pad supported thereon.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates a fiat plate which rovides the base of the improved holder.

he base has its sides, adjacent to one of its ends formed with lateral extensions which are bent at a right angle in the same direction with respect to the base. These angle portions are indicated by the numeral 2 and provide the sides of acompartment in the rear of the base. The base is extended a suitable-distance beyond the sides 3, the said extension being bent in a line with the outer edges of the said sides, and in the same direction as the sides to provide the back 3 of the referred to compartment. The back 3 has its edges form d with barrels 4, the said barrels extending from the ends of the said back, and between the barrels 4 there is received a barrel 5 formed on one edge of a plate 6. A pintle 7 passes through the barrels, thus hinging the plate 6 to the base. The plate 6 is in the nature of a clamp, the outer or free edge whereof being provided with a downwardly extending flange which is toothed or roughened, as indicated by the numeral 7 In the compartment provided by the elements 2 and 3, as well as the lamping plate 6, there is secured a helical spring 8 whose outer convolution engages a hook 9 on the inner face of the clamping plate 6,

the said spring swinging the clamping plate over the housing to bring the teeth 7 thereof in tight contact with the outer leaf of a writing pad 10. The clamping plate 6 has on its outer face a knob or handle 11 whereby the same may be swung away from the housing and base 1 to permit of the disconnection of the spring 8 from the book 9, and the consequent free outward swinging of the clamping plate onthe base.

By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the back 3 of the housing is arranged a suitable distance above the side members 2 thereof, and also that the side members 2 have their upper edges arranged at an inward inclination. This permits of a downward swingin of theclamlping plate 6, so

engage the sues cessive leaves of the pad 10 when the outer leaves are drawn therefrom. The toothed edge 7 of the clamping plate 6 in addition to holding the pad on the base 1, provides a straight edge for tearing the leaves of the pad therefrom.

Secured on the under face of the base plate 1, as at 12 there is the straight central portion of a wire spring. From the portion 12 the spring is extended to provide parallel arms which are extended transversely and coiled upon themselves, as at 13. The outer ends of the coils are extended at an inward angle, as at 14, and from thence in parallelism, as at 15, the connecting element for the parallel arms 15 being indicated by the numeral 16. One or both of the arms 15 at its juncture with the connecting element 16 of the spring clamp may be rounded or offset so that a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil may be held by the clamp, the clamp, however, primarily being designed to contact with the inner surface of a pocket of the user of the device for suspending the said device therefrom.

Secured on the beam of the base 1 at the. rear of the compartment there is a metal strip 17. This strip has its ends bent in the same direction to provide arms 18 that are disposed adjacent to but outward of the sides 2.

Pivotally secured to the sides 2, as at 19 are links 20. The links are guided between the arms 18 and the sides 2, and being in the ath of contact with the strip 17 will be hel against swinging in one direction. The strip is of spring metal, and the arms 18, contacting with the sides of the links 20 force the same in frictional engagement with the sides 2, so that accidental swinging of the links will be thus prevented. The links have removably and pivotally secured therebetween the angle ends '22 of a plate 21. The plate 21 has its central portion enlarged, the said enlargement being round in plan and being centrally provided with an opening. On the enlargement, indicated by the numeral 24, there is received a disk 25. a pivot 26 connecting the disk to the portion 24 of the plate 21. The enlargement 24 is circumferentially provided with depressions 27, the under face of the disk being provided with spring projections 28 designed to be received in certain of the depressions whereby the link, when turned on the plate 21 may be sustained at such circumferential adjustment. The disk 25 has its edges, at diametrically opposed points provided with upstanding ears 29 and 30 respectively. The ear 29 has a threaded opening'therethrough, the ear 3O bein provided with a non-threaded opening. crewed through the threaded end of the ear 29, and finding a bearing in the opening in the ear 30 there is a bolt member 31. The bolt member has its outer end Leaeav provided with an operating head 32. The numerals 34; and 35 indicate substantially U-shaped jaws. The bod portion of the jaw 35 has its outer end anged to contact with the inner face of the ear 29 and is further provided with a depending fian e 33 to contact with the outer face of the ange 30 on the disk 25. The second jaw 34 has a straight extension 32 provided with a threaded opening for the reception of the bolt 31. The flange or depending portions on the body of the jaw 35 have also openings therethrough for the passage of the bolt, but these openings are non-threaded. Thus the jaw 35 is in the nature of a stationary member and the jaw 34 is adjusted toward or away from the jaw 35 by the turning of the bolt 31. The jaws are designed to clamp therebetween the outer casing of a flash lamp 36, supported on the device in a manner whereby the bulb thereof may be brought so that the light rays therefrom will be directed over the pad 10 when the device is to be used in the night time. As a matter of fact, the lamp 36 can be arranged at any desired angle with respect to its support, and when not in use the said lamp is arranged transversely with respect to the pad holder, and longitudinally with respect to the supporting plate 21 therefor. As previously stated, the arms 18 exert a sufiicient pressure against the links to hold the links at desired angles with respect to the base 1, and when the links are swung to contact with the member 17. the lower edges of the said links will be flush with the bottom of the base 1.

When the device is positioned on a flat surface, such as a desk or the like, the hinged support for the flashlight may be held at a desired angle through the medium of legs 37 which are pivoted to the links 19. The offset ends 22 of the plate 21 are preferably roughened, as at 38 (Figure 5). This affords a frictional engagement between the ends of the said plate 21 and the links 19 to permit of the plate 21 and the elements carried thereby being sustained at desired angles on the links 19.

In addition to providing a support for the flashlight 26, the element 23 may also support thereon a box-like receptacle 39. The receptacle is secured to the element 23 by the pivot means 21. The housing 39 has an outer open end which, however, is normally closed by a hinged door 40, suitable latching means being provided between the door and housing. The receptacle 39 provides a means whereby an additional battery for the fiash lamp 36 may be carried, and also provides a means whereby pen points or other short writing implements may be housed.

As disclosed in Figure 9 of the drawings, a blank book, instead of a pad may be suption, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the improvement to those slfl'lled in the art to which this invention relates. It is to be noted that the im provement. is of a comparatively simple nature which may be cheaply manufactured and marketed, and that the same will be found especially useful by mechanics, police,

doctors, chemists, engineers, stenographers,

reporters, mutes, and as .a matter of fact any persons who have use of a writing pad in the night time.

Having described the claim 1. In adevice for the purpose set forth, a plate on which a padrests, a housing on the plate receiving one end of the pad therein means between the housing and ad retaming the latter on the plate, lin piv-., otally secured to the sides of the housing and projecting rearwardly therefrom, spring fingers supported from the tacting the outer sides of the links for force ing the links toward the housing and for limiting the swinging of the links in one diinvention, ,1

rection, a plate pivotally secured between means and proj ectin plate and conthe links, a revoluble element on the plate, and adjustable lightvsupporting means on the revoluble element.

7 2. In a device for. the purpose set forth, a plate on which a pad is received, means on one end of the plate receiving one end of the pad therein and engaging the pad to hold the same on the plate, links pivoted to and extending beyond said means, spring fingers supported from the plate contacting the links for limiting the swinging thereo and for sustaining the said links angularly with respect to the plate, a plate pivotally connected between the links, a revolubleelement thereon, means normally holding said element from T turning, means locking said element from turning, and adjustable means on said element for clamping a lamp thereto. 3. In a device for the purpose set forth, a plate on which a pad rests, means on one end of the plate receiving the pad therein and engaging the pad to hold the same on the plate, links pivotally secured to said beyond the .plate, spring means influenomg'the links toward the first mentioned means andlimiting the swinging of the links in one direction, legs pivotally secured to the links, a lamp su port pivotally secured between the lin and including a revoluble member, and ad: justable clamps on's'aid member for 'secur-f ing a lamp therebetween.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

DAVID 

